ATSILA landed a major gamble on debut in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden at Bellewstown’s first fixture of the year. From as big as 18/1 in the morning, the Phoenix Of Spain filly opened at 15/2 on course and was backed down to 11/4 for this extended seven-furlong contest.

Ridden by Gavin Ryan, she was tardy from the gates and came off the bridle in rear of mid-division two furlongs down. She made headway into third racing to the final furlong and really found her stride to sweep to the front inside the final furlong, going on to win by two and a quarter lengths for Donnacha O’Brien and owner Barry Fowler.